In Whom Are You Trusting?

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land."

The thought came to me, In whom are you (meaning me) trusting?

To which I was quick to respond, "in the LORD, of course." And those of you who are church going people would probably answer this question in the same manner just a quickly as I did. BUT, what does the preponderance of the evidence by the way I live bear witness? i.e. - When I claim by my words to trust in the LORD is that statement equivalent to the way I live daily? Ouch!!!

The tragic truth is that too much of the time the evidence of my life would bear witness that I've been trusting in myself or others instead of the LORD. Maybe you could say the same thing. WHY? Why do I say I am trusting in God but live in such a way that clearly exposes me a liar?

I believe that part of the problem is that I'm more a product of my culture than I want to admit. I live in a day and time of prosperity, comfort, and ease. I've not had to experience the extreme hardships that most of the inhabitants of my world are experiencing today. So, I have grown complacent. I don't have to depend on the LORD for my daily bread. I just go to the grocery store and use a plastic card to buy bread paid for by the funds "I" earned from "my" job. What arrogance! How easy it is to develop that kind of mindset when I take my eyes off the LORD and mistakenly place them on myself. Jeremiah was right, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (one translation uses the word 'wicked' instead of sick); who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind."

Lord, forgive me for such arrogance and neglect. Illuminate my heart by the Spirit of Truth, and expose within me the error of my ways. I acknowledge that trusting in myself or any other person is foolishness - even worse sinful pride. Thank you, for your daily provisions. Teach me your Word that I might delight in them all the days of my life. Cleanse me from within that my life might bear witness of my trust in YOU. Amen.

I want to be like the words recorded by Jeremiah in chapter 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

I must daily remind myself of this truth. I can trust in myself - and screw up my life, or I can trust in the LORD who will sustain me even in difficult times because my roots are fixed in HIM. The choice is mine.